Frozen okra on a baking dish lined with parchment paper Credit: Shanna Jones
A trip to the farmers’ market may leave you with a few too many okra pods then you know what to do with. And we know you don’t want to let them go to waste! Pickling your pods will let you get a bite summer all year long, but you can also freeze okra so you can enjoy it in your favorite hot dishes, too. To help you out, we put together an easy step-by-step guide on freezing okra. One-Pan Spicy Okra & Shrimp Pictured Recipe: One-Pan Spicy Okra & Shrimp Before You Start The best way to freeze okra calls for blanching and shocking the pods before freezing. That means you dunk the okra pods in a pot of boiling water for about 30 seconds and then plunge them into ice water to halt the cooking. According to experts at the University of Minnesota Extension, this method of quick-cooking vegetables before freezing deactivates enzymes that cause the loss of nutrients, color, flavor and texture. While we encourage you to preserve as many nutrients as you can, you can skip the blanching and freeze the okra without it. It may lose some of its vibrant green color but, in my experience, the texture and flavor of frozen okra that has been blanched isn’t much different from okra that hasn’t. Pan-Fried Okra How to Freeze Okra What You’ll Need: Large potLarge bowlWaterIce cubesTongs or slotted spoonPaper towelsParchment paperBaking sheetZip-top freezer bags or airtight plastic containers Okra on a cutting board Credit: Shanna Jones Step 1 Wash the okra pods thoroughly and cut them into bite-size pieces, if desired. a pot on a hot plate next to a bowl with ice water in it Credit: Shanna Jones Step 2 Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Meanwhile, prepare a large bowl of ice water. Okra going into a pot of boiling water Credit: Shanna Jones Step 3 Carefully add the okra to the boiling water; cook until the pods turn bright green, about 30 seconds. Okra going into a bowl of ice water Credit: Shanna Jones Step 4 Using tongs or a slotted spoon, quickly transfer the pods to the ice water and let them cool for a few minutes. Remove the pods from the ice water and pat dry with paper towels. Okra being placed on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper Credit: Shanna Jones Step 5 Spread the pods out in a single layer on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet (a silicone mat works too). Make sure the pods are not touching each other, so they don’t stick together when they freeze. Place the baking sheet in the freezer for about an hour, or until the pods are frozen. Frozen okra in a plastic bag Credit: Shanna Jones Step 6 Remove the baking sheet from the freezer and place the frozen okra in zip-top plastic freezer bags or in an airtight plastic container. Store in the freezer for up to a year. Okra freezes better than many vegetables. You can cook it most ways that you would fresh okra. It works perfectly in gumbo or stewed with tomatoes. You can even grill and sauté it too.
Frozen okra on a baking dish lined with parchment paper Credit: Shanna Jones
Frozen okra on a baking dish lined with parchment paper Credit: Shanna Jones
Frozen okra on a baking dish lined with parchment paper
Credit: Shanna Jones
A trip to the farmers’ market may leave you with a few too many okra pods then you know what to do with. And we know you don’t want to let them go to waste! Pickling your pods will let you get a bite summer all year long, but you can also freeze okra so you can enjoy it in your favorite hot dishes, too. To help you out, we put together an easy step-by-step guide on freezing okra.
One-Pan Spicy Okra & Shrimp
Pictured Recipe: One-Pan Spicy Okra & Shrimp
Before You Start
The best way to freeze okra calls for blanching and shocking the pods before freezing. That means you dunk the okra pods in a pot of boiling water for about 30 seconds and then plunge them into ice water to halt the cooking. According to experts at the University of Minnesota Extension, this method of quick-cooking vegetables before freezing deactivates enzymes that cause the loss of nutrients, color, flavor and texture.
While we encourage you to preserve as many nutrients as you can, you can skip the blanching and freeze the okra without it. It may lose some of its vibrant green color but, in my experience, the texture and flavor of frozen okra that has been blanched isn’t much different from okra that hasn’t.
Pan-Fried Okra
How to Freeze Okra
What You’ll Need:
Large potLarge bowlWaterIce cubesTongs or slotted spoonPaper towelsParchment paperBaking sheetZip-top freezer bags or airtight plastic containers
Okra on a cutting board Credit: Shanna Jones Step 1 Wash the okra pods thoroughly and cut them into bite-size pieces, if desired. a pot on a hot plate next to a bowl with ice water in it Credit: Shanna Jones Step 2 Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Meanwhile, prepare a large bowl of ice water. Okra going into a pot of boiling water Credit: Shanna Jones Step 3 Carefully add the okra to the boiling water; cook until the pods turn bright green, about 30 seconds. Okra going into a bowl of ice water Credit: Shanna Jones Step 4 Using tongs or a slotted spoon, quickly transfer the pods to the ice water and let them cool for a few minutes. Remove the pods from the ice water and pat dry with paper towels. Okra being placed on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper Credit: Shanna Jones Step 5 Spread the pods out in a single layer on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet (a silicone mat works too). Make sure the pods are not touching each other, so they don't stick together when they freeze. Place the baking sheet in the freezer for about an hour, or until the pods are frozen. Frozen okra in a plastic bag Credit: Shanna Jones Step 6 Remove the baking sheet from the freezer and place the frozen okra in zip-top plastic freezer bags or in an airtight plastic container. Store in the freezer for up to a year.
Okra freezes better than many vegetables. You can cook it most ways that you would fresh okra. It works perfectly in gumbo or stewed with tomatoes. You can even grill and sauté it too.
One-Pan Spicy Okra & Shrimp
One-Pan Spicy Okra & Shrimp
Pan-Fried Okra
Pan-Fried Okra
Okra on a cutting board Credit: Shanna Jones Step 1 Wash the okra pods thoroughly and cut them into bite-size pieces, if desired.
a pot on a hot plate next to a bowl with ice water in it Credit: Shanna Jones Step 2 Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Meanwhile, prepare a large bowl of ice water.
Okra going into a pot of boiling water Credit: Shanna Jones Step 3 Carefully add the okra to the boiling water; cook until the pods turn bright green, about 30 seconds.
Okra going into a bowl of ice water Credit: Shanna Jones Step 4 Using tongs or a slotted spoon, quickly transfer the pods to the ice water and let them cool for a few minutes. Remove the pods from the ice water and pat dry with paper towels.
Okra being placed on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper Credit: Shanna Jones Step 5 Spread the pods out in a single layer on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet (a silicone mat works too). Make sure the pods are not touching each other, so they don't stick together when they freeze. Place the baking sheet in the freezer for about an hour, or until the pods are frozen.
Frozen okra in a plastic bag Credit: Shanna Jones Step 6 Remove the baking sheet from the freezer and place the frozen okra in zip-top plastic freezer bags or in an airtight plastic container. Store in the freezer for up to a year.
Okra on a cutting board Credit: Shanna Jones Step 1 Wash the okra pods thoroughly and cut them into bite-size pieces, if desired.
Okra on a cutting board Credit: Shanna Jones
Step 1
Wash the okra pods thoroughly and cut them into bite-size pieces, if desired.
Okra on a cutting board Credit: Shanna Jones
Okra on a cutting board
Credit: Shanna Jones
Okra on a cutting board
Step 1
Wash the okra pods thoroughly and cut them into bite-size pieces, if desired.
a pot on a hot plate next to a bowl with ice water in it Credit: Shanna Jones Step 2 Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Meanwhile, prepare a large bowl of ice water.
a pot on a hot plate next to a bowl with ice water in it Credit: Shanna Jones
Step 2
Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Meanwhile, prepare a large bowl of ice water.
a pot on a hot plate next to a bowl with ice water in it Credit: Shanna Jones
a pot on a hot plate next to a bowl with ice water in it
a pot on a hot plate next to a bowl with ice water in it
Step 2
Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Meanwhile, prepare a large bowl of ice water.
Okra going into a pot of boiling water Credit: Shanna Jones Step 3 Carefully add the okra to the boiling water; cook until the pods turn bright green, about 30 seconds.
Okra going into a pot of boiling water Credit: Shanna Jones
Step 3
Carefully add the okra to the boiling water; cook until the pods turn bright green, about 30 seconds.
Okra going into a pot of boiling water Credit: Shanna Jones
Okra going into a pot of boiling water
Okra going into a pot of boiling water
Step 3
Carefully add the okra to the boiling water; cook until the pods turn bright green, about 30 seconds.
Okra going into a bowl of ice water Credit: Shanna Jones Step 4 Using tongs or a slotted spoon, quickly transfer the pods to the ice water and let them cool for a few minutes. Remove the pods from the ice water and pat dry with paper towels.
Okra going into a bowl of ice water Credit: Shanna Jones
Step 4
Using tongs or a slotted spoon, quickly transfer the pods to the ice water and let them cool for a few minutes. Remove the pods from the ice water and pat dry with paper towels.
Okra going into a bowl of ice water Credit: Shanna Jones
Okra going into a bowl of ice water
Okra going into a bowl of ice water
Step 4
Using tongs or a slotted spoon, quickly transfer the pods to the ice water and let them cool for a few minutes. Remove the pods from the ice water and pat dry with paper towels.
Okra being placed on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper Credit: Shanna Jones Step 5 Spread the pods out in a single layer on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet (a silicone mat works too). Make sure the pods are not touching each other, so they don't stick together when they freeze. Place the baking sheet in the freezer for about an hour, or until the pods are frozen.
Okra being placed on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper Credit: Shanna Jones
Step 5
Spread the pods out in a single layer on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet (a silicone mat works too). Make sure the pods are not touching each other, so they don’t stick together when they freeze. Place the baking sheet in the freezer for about an hour, or until the pods are frozen.
Okra being placed on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper Credit: Shanna Jones
Okra being placed on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper
Okra being placed on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper
Step 5
Spread the pods out in a single layer on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet (a silicone mat works too). Make sure the pods are not touching each other, so they don’t stick together when they freeze. Place the baking sheet in the freezer for about an hour, or until the pods are frozen.
Frozen okra in a plastic bag Credit: Shanna Jones Step 6 Remove the baking sheet from the freezer and place the frozen okra in zip-top plastic freezer bags or in an airtight plastic container. Store in the freezer for up to a year.
Frozen okra in a plastic bag Credit: Shanna Jones
Step 6
Remove the baking sheet from the freezer and place the frozen okra in zip-top plastic freezer bags or in an airtight plastic container. Store in the freezer for up to a year.
Frozen okra in a plastic bag Credit: Shanna Jones
Frozen okra in a plastic bag
Frozen okra in a plastic bag
Step 6
Remove the baking sheet from the freezer and place the frozen okra in zip-top plastic freezer bags or in an airtight plastic container. Store in the freezer for up to a year.
